Article orienting apparatus



May 10, 1966 A. YANOSHITA ARTICLE ORIENTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1964 INVENTOR. ALEXANDER YANOSHITA ATTORNEYS FIG! y 1966 A. YANOSHITA ARTICLE ORIENTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1964 FIG.3

ALEXANDER YANOSHITA 7 ATTORNEYS y 1966 A. YANOSHITA 3,250,373

ART I OLE ORIENTING APPARATUS Filed April 6, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 C1a Clb FIG. 4

2 4 INVENTOR.

9 ALEXANDER YANOSHITA D i BY-7f ATTORN EYS United States Patent M 3,25%,373 ARTICLE ORIENTING APPARATUS Alexander Yanoshita, R.R. 4, Chatham, Ontario, Canada Filed Apr. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 357,388 4 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) This invention relates to an apparatus for changing the orientation of articles that are sequentially arranged on a moving conveyor and in particular to an apparatus for changing the orientation of bags of flour and the like to facilitate subsequent stacking operations.

It is usual in a flour mill to fill bags with flour and then to deposit the filled bags on a moving conveyor which carries them to a sewing machine where the open ends of the bags are sewn. After the bags leave the sewing machine they are in an upright position and are commonly oriented endwise of the conveyor. A workman manually grasps each sewn bag as it passes by, gives it a quarter turn and pushes it down onto the conveyor so that it assumes a prone position. The bags are subsequently discharged from the conveyor and are stacked.

An object of this invention is to provide a reliable, efficient and automatic apparatus adapted to accomplish the manual step referred to above.

The foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus according to the invention and showing two adjacent bags on a conveyor, one bag having been re-oriented by the apparatus and the other bag approaching its position at a start of a cycle of operation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 and the bag that has been grasped and rotated a quarter turn from its initial position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 and a bag in the positions they occupy near the end of a cycle of operation; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram showing electrical control circuits and fluid lines associated with a clamping, turning and pushing mechanism of the apparatus of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Mechanical construction Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, an article orienting apparatus, generally indicated at 10, is shown adjacent to a conveyor 11 having a load bearing surface 12 on which are sequentially arranged bags 13 (shown in chain-dotted lines) which move along the conveyor 11 in the direction of the arrows (see FIG. 1). One bag is shown in an upright position and endwise of the conveyor 11 and is approaching the position at which the cycle of operation of the apparatus commences. The other bag has been re-oriented by the apparatus and has assumed a prone position on the surface 12 of the conveyor 11. Thus, re-orientation of the bags includes turning them one quarter turn and then knocking them down.

The principal components of the apparatus (which will be described in detail below) include a clamping mechanism that is adapted to grasp a bag when it reaches a predetermined location on the conveyor, a turning mechanism for rotating a bag that has been grasped and a pushing mechanism for knocking down a bag after it has been turned and the clamping mechanism has been disengaged from the bag. A simple framework is pro- 3,250,373 Patented May 10, 1966 vided to support the various mechanisms referred to above comprising a base 15 supporting a vertical standard 14 which has normally extending arm members 16 supporting the various mechanisms.

Clamping -m'echanism The clamping mechanism is generally indicated at 17 and includes an actuator 18 for actuating a pair of clamping arms 19 through any suitable linkage 20. The linkage 20 is carried by a bracket 21 in the shape of an inverted U and which is fast to a rotatable shaft 22 journalled in a fixed sleeve 23.

Fluid, preferably air under pressure, is admitted to and exhausted from opposite ends of the actuator 18 under the control of a solenoid actuated valve 35 (see FIG. 4). At the start of a cycle of operation the solenoid actuated valve 35 is not energized and the fluid is admitted to the actuator 18 through an inlet at the rear of the actuator 18 and the fluid is exhausted from an outlet at the front thereof. Under this condition a piston rod 24 of the actuator 18 is fully extended and as a result the clamping arms 19 are separated to a maximum degree (inoperative position). When the clamping arms 19 are in the inoperative position a bag moving along the conveyor can pass freely between them. A feeler 25 is coupled to a switch S1 (normally open) and it constitutes sensing means for determining that a bag is in a suitable predetermined location on the conveyor. When the feeler 25 is actuated by a bag, the switch S1 closes, thereby energizing the solenoid actuated valve 35. Thus, the flow of fluid through the actuator 18 is reversed so that the piston rod 24 withdraws causing the clamping arms to move together quickly (operative position). As a result, the bag that is between the clamping arms is firmly grasped.

Turning mechanism The turning mechanism is generally indicated at 26 and it includes an actuator 27 having a piston rod 28. The actuator 27 is similar to the actuator 18 referred to above and it is coupled to the rotatable shaft 22 by means of any suitable linkage 29. Unlike the actuator 18, however, at the start of a cycle of operation the flow of fluid through the actuator 27 is from front to rear and the piston rod 28 is originally fully withdrawn. Control of the fluid flow through the actuator 27 is provided by a solenoid actuated valve 36. A switch S2 (normally open) is actuated by a portion 20a of the linkage 20 after the piston rod 24 nears the end of its inward travel during the clamping portion of the cycle. When the switch S2 closes the solenoid actuated valve 36 is energized and the flow of fluid through the actuator 27 is reversed. Then the piston rod 28 becomes fully extended and the shaft 22 is rotated substantially one quarter turn; thus the clamping arms 19 and the grasped bag are also rotated one quarter turn.

Switches associated with clamping mechanism and turning mechanism A switch S3 is located at the upper end of the rotatable shaft 22 and it is actuated by a slender rod 30 when the rotatable shaft 22 has rotated about a quarter turn. When the switch S3 is actuated, electrical current supplied to the solenoid actuated valve is interrupted and the clamping arms 19 thereupon move to the inoperative position; at the same time, the heater of a delay relay R3 (see FIG. 4) is energized. When contacts C3 (normally closed) of the delay relay R3 open, current supplied to the solenoid actuated valve 36 is interrupted, and, accordingly, the turning mechanism 26 returns to its original position causing the clamping arms 19 to rotate one quarter turn back to their original position. The purpose of the delay relay R3 is to give the clamping arms 19 sufficient time to clear the bag before they rotate to their original position; a delay period of approximately two seconds is suitable.

v Pushing mechanism The pushing mechanism is generally indicated at 31 and it includes an actuator 32 having a piston rod 33 that is connected to a flat pusher bar 34. A switch S4 (normally open) is mounted on the fixed sleeve 23 and is actuated by a portion 20b of the clamping linkage 20 when the clamping arms 19 move apart, as described above. When the switch S4 closes a solenoid actuated valve 37 is energized and the piston rod 33 extends out of the actuator 32, causing the pusher bar 34 to knock down the bag (see FIG. 3).

Electrical circuit and bags to be re-oriented are arranged sequentially and in an upright position endwise of the conveyor. As they proceed along the conveyor, the bags pass between the clamping arms and eventually actuate the feeler 25, causing the switch S1 to close thereby energizing the relay R1 and thus energizing the solenoid actuated valve 35. The piston rod 24 of the actuator 18 withdraws, causing the clamping arms to move to the operative position so that the bag between them is firmly grasped. When the clamping arms have grasped the article the portion 20a of the linkage 20 actuates the switch S2 which in turn energizes the relay R2 and thus energizes-the solenoid actuated valve 36 (turning mechanism). As a result the .piston rod 28 of the actuator 27 extends causing the FIG. 4 shows an electrical circuit that can be used for I energizing the solenoid actuated valves 35, 36 and 37. Also shown, somewhat schematically, are various fluid lines associated with the solenoid actuated valves and the associated clamping, turning and pushing mechanisms.

The solenoid actuated valve 35 (clamping mechanism) is controlled by a relay R1 having normally open contacts Cla and Clb. When the switch S1 closes the coil of the relay R1 is energized and when the contact Cla closes the relay R1 locks in and remains energized even if the switch S1 should open. Closing of the contact Clb causes the solenoid actuated valve 35 to become energized and as a result the clamping arms 19 move to the operative position and grasp the bag between them.

The solenoid actuated valve 36 (turning mechanism) is controlled by a relay R2 having normally open contacts C211 and C212. When the switch S2 closes the coil of the relay R2 is energized and when the contacts C2a close the relay R2 locks in and remains energized even if the switch S2 should open. Closing of the contacts C2b causes the solenoid actuated valve 36 to become energized and as a result the turning mechanism rotates the clamping arms 19 and the grasped bag one quarter turn. It should be noted' that the relay R2 is energized by a circuit including contacts C3 (normally closed) of the time delay relay R3.

The switch S3 has two sets of contacts S3a (normally closed) and 83b (normally open). When the switch S3 is actuated (i.e. at the end of the turning portion of the cycle) the contacts S3a open and interrupt the circuit supplying current to the coil of the relay R1. When the relay R1 is thus de-energi zed its contacts Cla and Clb open; opening of the contacts Clb causes the solenoid actuated valve 35 to become de-energized and as a result the clamping arms 19 move to the inoperative position. Simultaneously, the contacts S3b close and cause the delay relay R3 to become energized.

The switch S4 is actuated after the clamping arms 19 move apart and before they re-rotate to their original positions. The solenoid actuated valve 37 is thereby energized and the pushing mechanism is actuated causing the bag to be knocked down.

The delay relay R3 remains energized and after a suitable delay period (two seconds is suitable) its contacts C3 open and interrupt the current flowing to the coil of relay R2. This causes the solenoid actuated valve 36 to become de-energized and the turning mechanism returns the clamping mechanism to its original position.

Operation At the start of an operation cycle fluid under pressure is delivered to the actuators 18, 27 and 32. The olamp ing arms 19 are in the inoperative position and the solenoid actuated valves 35, 36 and 37 and the relays R1, R2 and R3 are de-energized. The conveyor begins to run clamping arms and the grasped bag to be rotated one quarter turn.

The switch S3 thereupon'closes and as a result the relay R1 is de-energized and the delay relay R3 is energized; The clamping arms 19 move to the inoperative position and the switch S4 closes, thereby energizing the solenoid actuated valve 37' which causes the pushing mechanism to be actuated. The pusher bar 34 knocks down the bag. The delay relay R3 opens (after a delay of about 2 seconds) and the relay R2 is de-energized. The turning mechanism returns to its initial position and the apparatus is then ready to repeat the above described cycle of operation.

It will be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is a preferred example and that various modifications can be carried out without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An apparatus for orienting articles that are arranged sequentially and in an upright position on a moving conveyor comprising means for sensing that an article is at a predetermined location on the conveyor, clamping means responsive to the sensing means for grasping an article that is at said predetermined location, turning means for rotating the clamping means and the grasped article through a predetermined angle, means for releasing the clamping means and for returning it to its initial position after the article has been rotated through the predetermined angle, and means operable after the clamping means has been released for moving the article from its initial upright position to a prone position on the conveyor.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the turning means is responsive to the clamping means and is actuated when the clamping means has grasped the article.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the releasing means is responsive to the'turning means and a delay relay is energized upon operation of the releasing means to delay return of the clamping means to its initial position.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim3 in which th means for moving the article to a prone position is responsive-to the releasing means and is actuated when the clamping means is released.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,615,965 2/1927 Straight. 2,652,140 9/1953 Hall. 2,779,453 1/1957 Lippert. 2,940,581 6/1960 Chebuhar. 3,080,041 3/1963 Luce.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ORIENTING ARTICLES THAT ARE ARRANGED SEQUENTIALLY AND IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION ON A MOVING CONVEYOR COMPRISING MEANS FOR SENSING THAT AN ARTICLE IS AT A PREDETERMINED LOCATION ON THE CONVEYOR, CLAMPING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE SENSING MEANS FOR GRASPING AN ARTICLE THAT IS AT SAID PREDETERMINED LOCATION, TURNING MEANS FOR ROTATING THE CLAMPING MEANS AND THE GRASPED ARTICLE THROUGH A PREDETERMINED ANGLE, MEANS FOR RELEAS- 